Commemoration of Defenders on Remembrance and Victory Day

Today, May 8, a commemoration took place in Odesa to honor the defenders of Ukraine who laid down their lives for the freedom and sovereignty of our nation.

More than a decade ago, Ukraine joined the tradition of commemorating the victory over Nazism in a European spirit – we do not celebrate, we honor the fallen in World War II from 1939 to 1945. The memory of war should not lead to a cult of victory, but rather cultivate the ability to value peace and defend it resolutely and uncompromisingly. Today, Ukraine is fighting against Russian aggression, which threatens not only the independence and sovereignty of our state but also the international legal order and the security of all humanity. The only way to restore peace is to defeat the aggressor.